Solvers endeavoring to keep the unclued resolution at 24 Across will need to treat some of the answers to this puzzle's clues accordingly before entering them in the grid. The outcome of the resolution may be determined upon completion of the puzzle. Answer lengths, which are not shown, may differ from the lengths of the corresponding grid entries. Five clue answers are capitalized.

1. Bit of offering in cash resolved confusion6. Mail-order merchant behind that female item in a pod (two words)12. Warning about bishop and prince13. Retracted question about one Mediterranean island link?14. Fellow adopting boy's name given name for a girl15. Insufficient material for a showy outfit17. Stung, exits the streetcar from the rear?18. Good general in African land22. Empty, nested containers23. Opening sound overheard29. Losing the foremost champion's love30. Direct old Broadway hit about island34. Misconstrued nail to be something to sit on35. Turning orb: Atlas's burden to bear38. Instrument is wretchedly bad to some ears39. Coming into view, river rodent with jagged teeth40. Withhold rum itself41. Little bit of power coming from speakers42. Got rid of load at last, and felt a tingling sensation43. Weary, even assuming resistance

Down

1. British river past group of cabins2. Stop the guy with a thumbs-down (two words)3. Downright cunning about cost4. Horse with swayback carrying king5. Intended holding number back7. After the start, Evil Eye is melodramatic8. Grass snarled seaport9. Free finally, animal in Born Free bounding toward Joy10. White Russian's last, after derelict put in bar order11. Superfluous goads by head of state16. Strip joints, before end of night19. Interdiction, among others, in Latin country20. Dwelling within, wrong one confined (hyphenated)21. How do you like that show with Democratic rowdy? (hyphenated)25. Put in order for dark beer, getting otherwise (two words)26. Besides taking two lefts, hit truck stop?27. Slept fitfully, comprehending about birds28. Color communications medium for the audience in eating area31. In space station, I see a woolly material32. Country chart-topper about a first person, singular33. Strangely bestial flowering plant36. Stew's musical bar37. Charge five hundred for meal